This Fabergé Flower Is the Most Expensive Antiques Roadshow Find Ever

Courtesy The Queen's Own Warwickshire and Worcestershire Charitable Trust

One of the most valuable finds in Antiques Roadshow history has been revealed as a Fabergé flower that was presented to an army regiment as a trophy.

Following the news that the precious jeweled item - which reportedly has a price tag of £1 million, which is over $1.3 million in USD - turned up on an episode being filmed near Birmingham in June, the prestigious jewelry firm has spoken about the origins of the rare object.

Tatiana Fabergé, the great-granddaughter of Peter Carl Faberge, explored the history of the flower after she recognized the design. She found it was part of a botanical study created by the company in Imperial Russia during the early 20th century.

"Look in the book Fabergé Flowers on page 61 there is the exact same flower which is in the Queen's Own Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry Charitable Trust," she said, according to The Telegraph.

A spokesperson for the brand said that there are only around 80 of Fabergé's botanical studies remaining. "They are among the most beautiful objects produced by the company," the representative added. "It is 13.3 cm in height. In the form of pear blossom in a vase, its chased and engraved gold stem is placed in in a rock crystal vase carved so it appears to be half full of water."

"The six flowers of blossom are also gold which have been enamelled white with shades of pale pink. Their stamens are oxidised silver with a diamond at the centre. The leaves are carved nephrite."

Speaking about its provenance, the spokesperson explained: "Georgina, Countess of Dudley presented the study to The Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars, QOWH, in the early 1900s as a regimental trophy. Three pears feature on the county's Arms, hence the choice of pear blossom."

BREAKING: Antiques Roadshow has had one of most significant finds in the show's history at Black County Museum - a faberge brooch worth £1M. pic.twitter.com/wgZMHYJgMJ

Two soldiers are said to have taken the study to the Antique Roadshow. "The name of the regiment that currently owns this treasure will be revealed when the programme is screened," the representative confirmed.

The BBC is keeping further details under wraps until the episode is screened as part of the 40th anniversary series this autumn.

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Previous hidden treasures uncovered by the show include a French 'Japonisme' urn made in 1874, which was being used by its owner as a plant pot. It was sold at auction in September 2012 for £560,000, the broadcaster confirmed.

In 2013, a painting which had been bought for just £400 from an antique shop in Cheshire was authenticated as a genuine Van Dyck. It was valued at £400k and has since been exhibited internationally.

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